View changes and educational demands on sexual/reproductive health of students at Shanghai Jiaotong University

Hongxiang Wang; Bin Chen; Yong Xu; Qing Miao; Zhenming Wu; Qiang Ju; Yiran Huang

View changes and educational demands on sexual/reproductive health of students at Shanghai Jiaotong University

Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015 Sep 15;8(9):16414-23. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Hongxiang Wang¹, Bin Chen¹, Yong Xu², Qing Miao³, Zhenming Wu⁴, Qiang Ju⁵, Yiran Huang¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Institute of Andrology No. 145 Middle Shandong Road, Shanghai 200001, China.
² Shanghai Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University No. 600 South Wan Ping Road, Shanghai 20030, China.
³ Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine No. 227 South Chong Qing Road, Shanghai 200025, China.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University No. 145 Middle Shandong Road, Shanghai 200001, China.
⁵ Department of Dermatology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University No. 145 Shandong Zhong Road, Shanghai 200001, China.

PMID: 26629167
PMCID: PMC4659055

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether the attitudes to sexual and reproductive health of a cohort of university students had changed from 2005 to 2013.

Methods: Questionnaires (1,000) on sexual and reproductive health attitudes were randomly distributed to students at Shanghai Jiaotong University in May 2013. All participants volunteered for the study and their answers were anonymous. The questionnaire contents included personal information and 72 MCQs, which covered four categories: knowledge about sexual/reproductive health and STDs; attitude to sexual behavior; attitudes to pornographic books/movies; desire of the participants for education on sexual/reproductive health. The participants had not received sexual/reproductive health education since their admission to the university. Their study majors were broadly similar to those participants in the April 2005 survey. The high sensitivity of the content of the questionnaire made it imperative to maintain anonymity and high security of the collected data.

Results: The return rate of questionnaires were 98% (request age from 19~21 years). Personal hygiene was much greater in females than in males. The proportion of females and males who held a positive attitude to premarital sexual behavior was significantly increased (P < 0.0001). 80% of the participants understood the need to use condoms with strangers; however, still high proportion of participants lacked of this knowledge (P = 0.142). About one third of the participants still did not believe that unmarried pregnancy was acceptable (no significant change from 2005 to 2013). There was significantly improved knowledge about the way in which AIDS spreads.

Conclusions: College students are more open today compared to the 2003 survey. A higher level of sexual knowledge has been achieved but there scope for further improvement. Sex education should be based on the actual needs of young people, teaching reforms, and special attention paid to practical teaching.

Keywords: AIDS; Sexually transmitted disease; sexual and reproductive health; sexual behavior; sexual education.